Top 4 Common Causes of Back Pain

Back pain is among the most common causes of discomfort that many people experience. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, most people will experience at least one episode of lower back pain in their life. Luckily, for many, back pain typically subsides within a couple of weeks. Despite this comforting prospect, back pain is usually the hardest condition to diagnose and treat. This is because our spine is a complex structure made up of an interconnected series of bones, discs, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. 

Keep on reading to discover the most common causes of back pain and how to treat them. 

1. Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation in your body’s joints. It can affect any joint in your body, including the facet joints in your spine. Two of the most common spinal arthritis types include ankylosing spondylitis and cervical arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a lifelong condition that causes pain and stiffness in your lower back and can spread to your neck and other body parts. Cervical arthritis is a disease that causes stiffness, pain, and decreased range of motion in your neck.  

Treatment methods for both cervical arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis include practicing good posture, stretching exercises, chiropractic manipulation, and heat and cold therapy. A specialist may also prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and injections of corticosteroids to relieve your symptoms. 

2. Herniated or Bulging Disc and Pinched Nerve
Herniated or bulging disc is among the main causes of neck and back pains. The rubbery pads between the vertebrae can rupture or bulge and pressure nerves in the spinal canal, causing muscle weakness and pain. Symptoms of pinched nerves typically worsen after certain movements and vigorous physical activity. This condition may result from changes in your spine that develop due to aging or traumatic events. 

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may benefit from avoiding certain activities, taking NSAIDs, oral corticosteroids, and undergoing physical therapy treatment. Surgery may be required if your symptoms don’t respond to conservative treatments. Consult a back pain doctor to find the treatment method that works best for you. 

3. Discogenic Disc Disease 
Also known as degenerative disc disease, this is a common cause of low back and neck pain. Throughout your life, your spinal disks may dry out, crack, or slip out of place, affecting nearby nerves. Common symptoms include pain in your lower back and buttocks that may get worse when you sit, bend, twist, or lift. Often this pain gets better when you change position or walk. 

Your treatment goal is to relieve pain and prevent additional damage. Depending on your symptoms, treatment may include taking over-the-counter painkillers, and steroid shots to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. Undergoing physical therapy may also help to strengthen your neck and back muscles and support the spine. If these treatments fail to provide results, you may require surgery to remove the damaged part of the disc and relieve pressure on your nerves.   

4. Spinal Strain or Sprain
Just like any other muscles in your body, the muscles in your back can get sprained or strained during activity. A sprain happens when you overstretch or tear a ligament, which is a band of tissue that connects your bones. A strain occurs due to torn or pulled muscles or tendons, which are fibrous cords of tissue that attach bones to muscles. Both these conditions cause very similar symptoms that include pain that worsens with movement, cramped, or spasmed muscles, difficulty walking, and standing straight.  

Back strains and sprains can be treated with rest, cold compression therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most individuals with spinal strain or sprain recover in about two weeks. If your symptoms continue for longer than that, you may require additional treatment.